Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Hey guys, CK here. You might have noticed I've been somewhat absent from Wigshop life lately. The current economic scene has forced me to be creative in my employment, part of which means I've been out of town quite a bit this summer. And let me tell you, I missed this place. For all our griping about how Knoxville could be better, my main impression from being away is how much better our city is than the average town in America. I know, 'cause I've been out there. We have a good place here. But sometimes you have to get away to realize it.

Here are somethings I thought about and missed while I was away:

1) The WDVX Blue Plate Special (especially on Friday at the Square Room). I've never found anything like it anywhere else. I really missed being able to get my live music fix for free every week.

2) Sitting in the sun at a cafe on Market Square. Sure you can find cafes in other cities, but you'd have to go to Italy to find them on a large central piazza, bustling with people.

3) Being able to walk and ride my bike around. We have our fair share of sprawl, but one can live downtown here and live (mostly) without a car. I found that most towns that I was in require a car no matter what. Their downtowns were dead and all the stores were in huge commercial developments on the interstate. Like I said, we have that too- but I missed having an urban option.

Getting tired of Knoxville? Go away for a while. You might just miss this scruffy little city.

I agree that there is nothing like coming home to the city you love after time away. I spend a lot of time in lonely hotels and airports, and I sure do love daydreaming about Saturday morning walks around downtown, maybe breakfast at the French Market or the Bijou Bistro, maybe an afternoon shopping around the great shops in the Bearden area.

I agree and disagree. Every time I go to another city I end up sighing in relief when I get back because this place feels like home. My family lives in the redneck riveria, Myrtle Beach, and my lady and I always pine over how there are NO organic, local restaurants there. Just chains and chain imitators. What a god awful little town...

BUT New York City (Manhattan specifically) may be one of the coolest places I've ever been. There is somewhere where you can sit in a piazza on a sunny day and have lunch or drinks at a cafe (in fact, there's several great little hidden plazas all over NYC right in the middle of the hustle and bustle).

I guess it all just depends on what you like and where you've lived before. I've grown to like Knoxville, but before Knoxville, I lived in Atlanta and I really like that city. In fact, I prefer the BIG city feel, which we don't have here. But on the other hand, there are great things to love about this LITTLE city.

knoxville stuff:

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